I posted a pic. and a few videos of my homemade tank and a few of you wanted a little more info. So here are some of the pics from the build.

But first I must give credit where credit is due. When I was thinking about building a tank I did a internet search and I found some youtube videos posted by a bloke in Australia, Dave Manson (a genius). A whole series on how to build a 2/5 scale tank. So it was after watching these videos that I was able to construct "The Tank" . Copied some of Dave's stuff and added some of my own.

There is even a forum, scaledtanks.com. for us weirdos.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1394.jpg

The first things I made were the tracks and frame. The tracks are 3/4 plywood blocks. Painted black, bolted to a length of conveyor belt. The center guides are rectangle steel tubing and the track blocks are made of composite lumber. The ends of the track are hooked together with door hinges.

In this photo you can also see the plywood test sprocket.

The frame is just steel tubing.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1391.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1475.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1476.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1473.jpg

The front idler adjustment. I added more bracing later.
http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1456.jpg

"The Tank" Is powered by my kids Chinese 4-wheeler. 110cc 3speed with reverse. This is connected to a golf cart rear-end. This is a pic of the set-up. Here you can see the big sprocket on the rear-end. I later changed it out for a 16 tooth and its still too slow.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1492.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1491.jpg
This shows the brake set up. They are not hydraulic. Just levers operated by cables. I had to modify the levers some-what.

Control levers.
http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1455.jpg

My first test drive was with my 1/2" Dewalt drill, it moved, even over a 4x4.
http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1472.jpg

A rear view of "The Tank". (That's a temporary gas tank !)
http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1523.jpg

The suspension is just swing arms with scooter shocks. The wheels are off big residential garbage cans and dumpsters. The sprockets are made from PVC sheet plastic. As you can tell this is a budget build :)

I'll leave ya-all with that for now. The next installment will cover the build of the hull.:nforc:

freeze1305

04-07-2011, 07:23 PM

I dont understand....whats the end game? you gonna enter it in shows...or use it to scare cagers....doesn't seem like a practical way to spend a few G's. However the ambition to attempt such a feat is commendable.

rorytsm

04-07-2011, 07:28 PM

i'm really surprised the treads are wood, i would have thought they were metal

Redgecko

04-07-2011, 07:39 PM

Sweet.

polakw/aR1

04-07-2011, 07:49 PM

Looks more like an M60 suspension....by the way its M1A1 not M1 A1 sorry to nit-pic but the abrams is my lifes work. Neat build:thumbup

Fallis

04-07-2011, 07:51 PM

I dont understand....whats the end game? you gonna enter it in shows...or use it to scare cagers....doesn't seem like a practical way to spend a few G's. However the ambition to attempt such a feat is commendable.

It's more or less a supremely badass toy "for his kids". There's another thread with the finished tank, driving it around the neighborhood and such, and lots of people wanted to see how he built it.

OP - roughly how much did you spend putting this thing together? It's kind of ridiculously awesome.

rorytsm

04-07-2011, 07:52 PM

It's more or less a supremely badass toy "for his kids". There's another thread with the finished tank, driving it around the neighborhood and such, and lots of people wanted to see how he built it.

OP - roughly how much did you spend putting this thing together? It's kind of ridiculously awesome.

i'd be willing to bet under 2g's

zipedadoo

04-07-2011, 08:53 PM

Yes you are right it is more of a m60 suspension, Didn't have it in me to do all seven axles, or 14 if you count both sides. And its not long enough so I had to change the front of the tank. Looks more like a early soviet union tank from the front at least the hull.
Sorry about the title.

What's the end game ????? I have no idea. We live in a small town and I'll put it in a few parades. Play war with my kids. Mostly just to see if I could build it. Besides who doesn't want a tank.

So far I have spent about $1400. But that's because I already had a lot of the parts. Engine, rear-end, steel, axles etc. If I had to buy everything new I'd have spent a few grand more.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_2130.jpg

Devil1

04-07-2011, 10:41 PM

Wow that's neat. How does it perform? Ride? Speed?

PimpClayR1

04-07-2011, 10:55 PM

That's bad ass! I want one:fact

TopChef

04-07-2011, 11:09 PM

That is sick! What is the top of the tank made out of? My 5 year old son would be the happiest kid in the world if he had one of those... Awesome!

Kangaroo

04-08-2011, 12:14 AM

this is so cool :fact

CARBONAR1

04-08-2011, 12:20 AM

I love it dude. It's mad. I'd take the kids to school in it. Have you set the barrel up so you can do a butane fireball or something out of it? You could rock up outside the school, let off a big plume of flame, then let the kids climb out of the hatch! :hammer:

Treemugger

04-08-2011, 06:02 AM

Yes you are right it is more of a m60 suspension, Didn't have it in me to do all seven axles, or 14 if you count both sides. And its not long enough so I had to change the front of the tank. Looks more like a early soviet union tank from the front at least the hull.
Sorry about the title.

What's the end game ????? I have no idea. We live in a small town and I'll put it in a few parades. Play war with my kids. Mostly just to see if I could build it. Besides who doesn't want a tank.

So far I have spent about $1400. But that's because I already had a lot of the parts. Engine, rear-end, steel, axles etc. If I had to buy everything new I'd have spent a few grand more.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_2130.jpg

how many inches of chobham in the front?:flex::crash

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 07:29 AM

Yes you are right it is more of a m60 suspension, Didn't have it in me to do all seven axles, or 14 if you count both sides. And its not long enough so I had to change the front of the tank. Looks more like a early soviet union tank from the front at least the hull.
Sorry about the title.

What's the end game ????? I have no idea. We live in a small town and I'll put it in a few parades. Play war with my kids. Mostly just to see if I could build it. Besides who doesn't want a tank.

So far I have spent about $1400. But that's because I already had a lot of the parts. Engine, rear-end, steel, axles etc. If I had to buy everything new I'd have spent a few grand more.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_2130.jpg

That is badass man! You should throw a cannon (potato gun) in that gun tube! Really cool build though!

Rangerstx

04-08-2011, 07:37 AM

Looks more like an M60 suspension....by the way its M1A1 not M1 A1 sorry to nit-pic but the abrams is my lifes work. Neat build:thumbup

Definitely more M60ish. Still cool though!

Fallis

04-08-2011, 11:49 AM

how many inches of chobham in the front?:flex::crash

What's chobham? It sounds like it'd make a delicious sandwich. :crash

KMac

04-08-2011, 12:07 PM

What's chobham? It sounds like it'd make a delicious sandwich. :crash

if you like eating armor it would be awesome! :crash

Kangaroo

04-08-2011, 12:10 PM

Hey a techy question. Does anybody know if Chobham has a material lifespan? I saw on discovery channel how they're refurbing old M1 tanks.

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 12:15 PM

Hey a techy question. Does anybody know if Chobham has a material lifespan? I saw on discovery channel how they're refurbing old M1 tanks.

:no They are refurbing to update the current Armor force to a "more" digital platform, They add armor but no they do not have to replace it unless it has been exposed...

KMac

04-08-2011, 12:16 PM

If anything, I would think the adhesive used with it (or in it) is probably what would break down, but that's just a guess. It likely has a pretty long usable life, unless of course it gets hit a lot.

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 12:20 PM

If anything, I would think the adhesive used with it (or in it) is probably what would break down, but that's just a guess. It likely has a pretty long usable life, unless of course it gets hit a lot.

Never seen it happen man, unless it taken a good shot than that tank goes away and gets completely stripped down and re-built...

Kangaroo

04-08-2011, 12:20 PM

When did we start selling them to Arab countries?

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 12:22 PM

When did we start selling them to Arab countries?

Many moons ago...egypt, kuwait, saudi and iraq, with a few others...they are stripped down though

Kangaroo

04-08-2011, 12:25 PM

Marines get the same version? :crash

:lol

KMac

04-08-2011, 12:27 PM

Never seen it happen man, unless it taken a good shot than that tank goes away and gets completely stripped down and re-built...

I don't doubt it. Just based on the materials it's made of, nothing jumps out as not being able to pull duty for the long haul.

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 12:29 PM

Marines get the same version? :crash

:lol

Kind of they like to do stuff different, their armor supports the infantry so they have different versions of the tank not that different but...the Army's armor has many different roles plus the marines charge beaches so their tanks have:snorkel

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 12:30 PM

I don't doubt it. Just based on the materials it's made of, nothing jumps out as not being able to pull duty for the long haul.

Maybe if you threw in an R1 engine, you might increse the speed. :sneaky

polakw/aR1

04-08-2011, 04:22 PM

Patton was the MAN!

Yes he was and is my hero!

zipedadoo

04-08-2011, 04:36 PM

Thanks guys for your kind comments and interest in my project.
Also thanks for the info on the armor. That I didn't know.

A belated pic of the track blocks. Had to cut out 160 of these bad boys.
http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1382.jpg

I wish I could tell ya-all that the hull was made from aluminum, carbon fiber, or even fiberglass but alas no...............just plywood.

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1593.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1596.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1721.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1723.jpg

The plywood is covered with a thin layer of bondo. Yes I'm worried it will crack but so far so good. I would like to either cover it with fiberglass or use it for a fiberglass mold and make it all out of fiberglass. As it is now it weighs 1200lbs. A little less weight would be nice.

Before paint. I had a problem finding the right color.I finally found a CARC (chemical agent resistive coating) substitute paint. Desert tan 686. It was a little $$$ but it looks good to me.

OMG dude that thing is badassssss! I love it, the recoil on the gun is just way to cool! Awesome work:bow :bow

zipedadoo

04-08-2011, 04:53 PM

OMG dude that thing is badassssss! I love it, the recoil on the gun is just way to cool! Awesome work:bow :bow

Thanks man.

I'm afraid I might loose the recoil with the potato gun. Still trying to figure that one out.

hoov100

04-08-2011, 05:21 PM

That makes me want to buy a bulldozer and strap some armor plate on it.

zipedadoo

04-08-2011, 05:29 PM

The first parade I put "The Tank" in I kind of want to put a big banner across the back.

"BORDER PATROL"

CARBONAR1

04-08-2011, 05:33 PM

That's the most fantastic thing I've ever seen a Dad build! I didn't even have a box cart! :hammer:

How did your son break his arm?, that's a terrible break!

zipedadoo

04-08-2011, 05:39 PM

Thanks.My boys did push me to stay after it. Once I started they weren't gonna let me quit.

I wish there was a good story behind the arm but there's not. He was just running in from recess, tripped and fell. He was going through a major growth spurt and we think that was a major factor. But no pins or plates in his arm. Just a cast and It looks good now.

CARBONAR1

04-08-2011, 05:45 PM

Wow. I broke both my arms that bad, but I had to hit the side of a car at 60kph to do it!.

The tank though...you sir are a freakin genius.:bow:bow:bow

zipedadoo

04-08-2011, 05:52 PM

Aw man sorry to hear that. But at least you got a story !!!!! (little consolation I'm sure)

CARBONAR1

04-08-2011, 05:55 PM

:lol
It's funny now...it wasn't at the time. :thumbup

Devil1

04-08-2011, 07:08 PM

Wow man. Videos are awesome. You're a hell of a craftsman. :fact

Crimson

04-09-2011, 10:52 AM

Defiantly a beautiful build and excellent work...:thumbup

Throw a fake driver hatch and some side skirts on and it will look more like a M1 versus the M60 look.

zipedadoo

04-09-2011, 12:22 PM

Thanks for the compliments.....

I am planning on side skirts and a drivers hatch. Made some mock-ups out of cardboard. Still trying to decide on what material to use. I'm leaning towards Styrofoam covered with fiberglass. Just waiting on the weather. It's snowing today !!!!

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1967.jpg

http://i1025.photobucket.com/albums/y314/zipedadoo/IMG_1965.jpg

polakw/aR1

04-09-2011, 01:31 PM

If it was me I would try and cover the idler wheel but it still looms good lime you have it

Kangaroo

04-09-2011, 01:48 PM

thread keeps getting better. have a name for the tank yet?

zipedadoo

04-09-2011, 02:01 PM

We just call it "The Tank" Right now. On scaledtank.com when you complete your build and if you meet the requirements you get a registration number. Mine is registered as
STO7.

polakw/aR1

04-09-2011, 04:05 PM

A reg.# :lol thats neat as hell! And yes it does keep getting better!

Ponykiller

04-09-2011, 04:22 PM

I've got an '04 R1 motor for sale if you wanna spice it up a bit in the power department. :sneaky

zipedadoo

04-09-2011, 08:36 PM

I've got an '04 R1 motor for sale if you wanna spice it up a bit in the power department. :sneaky

Well........... The torque curve might be a little off for a tank but .......if you want to make a donation....................:)

There is a guy in california that is building a m60 with a cbr 600. He has the engine, hull and tracks made but it hasn't moved under it's own power yet.

KMac

04-09-2011, 08:42 PM

I'd be surprised if the plywood sprockets and treads could handle the HP of a 600 and up motorcycle engine for very long.

Kangaroo

04-09-2011, 09:26 PM

What's the legality of a potato cannon? :crash

KMac

04-09-2011, 09:29 PM

What's the legality of a potato cannon? :crash

Most likely depends on whether it's a combustion type spud cannon or not. Every state probably has differing rules and regs.

zipedadoo

04-09-2011, 09:36 PM

Here's a link to his build or a least running the engine. I believe he used plywood for the track blocks but he used HDPE plastic for the treads and bolted it all together. But I also have my doubts. Especially since he's using a belt driven transmission.

http://www.youtube.com/user/craigkimble58#p/a/u/1/6JpMmDLkcR8

Kangaroo

04-09-2011, 09:41 PM

Most likely depends on whether it's a combustion type spud cannon or not. Every state probably has differing rules and regs.